Physical and mathematical simulations for molten steel flow in a large ingot casting process with double bottom argon bubbling porous beams

The effects of gas bubbling with double bottom porous beams on the flow during the filling process at different filling levels in a large ingot mould were investigated. Mixing time is long in the mould without gas bubbling. In the case of bottom gas bubbling with a small gas flow rate, the mixing time can be decreased by about 50–70%. Favourable bubbling position is 102–142?mm from the bottom centre. Large granular slag drops are entrapped at a lower filling level less than 60?mm and the slag drops entrapped become small with an increase in filling height without gas bubbling. Gas bubbling with reasonable flow rates does not cause strong slag entrapment during the initial stage of the filling process. Bottom gas bubbling in filling process of large ingot casting is beneficial to achieve simultaneously uniform temperature and composition, and to remove inclusions in the bath.